IT'S YOUR BENEFIT
October 12, 2009
Vol 6, Ed 2

Mark Your Calendar

  • Annual Health/Flex/HSA/RMSA Open Enrollment for 2010 will be November 1 to November 30, 2009.
    ACTION NOT REQUIRED
    ACTION REQUIRED
  • Employee Open Enrollment Informational Meetings (check brochure for times and locations)
    Barnes West County - November 16
    Danforth Campus - November 10,17,19,24
    Medical Campus - November 3,5,9,10,12,13,17,19,24
    North Campus - November 11
    Rolla - November 6
    West Campus - November 4,12
    West County Orthopedics - November 18

  • Employee Seminar: Whats' Next for the U.S. Economy

    Roger Aliaga-Diaz, Ph.D. of Vanguard will answer many questions regarding today's market turbulence.
    Danforth Campus- Wednesday, October 21, Simon Hall-May Auditorium, 10:00-11:30 am
    Medical Campus- Wednesday, October 21, McDonnell-Science Building-Moore Auditorium, 2:00-3:30 pm

  • One-on-One Retirement Investment Counseling with TIAA-CREF
    For reservations call 1-800-842-2005, ext. 5613 or online at www.tiaa-cref.org
  • One-on-One Retirement Investment Counseling with Vanguard
    For reservations call 1-800-662-0106, ext. 14500 or online at www.meetvanguard.com

  • Mailing of 2010 Employee Deferral Maximum for the retirement plan will be early November. Awaiting IRS final approval

    Did You Know?

  • United Healthcare (UHC)
    To insure that your laboratory benefits are paid at the highest level, remember to use a UHC network lab (including LabCorp and not Quest Diagnostics or LabOne).

  • Flex Spending Deadlines
    The deadline for incurring 2009 Health and/or Childcare flex spending expenses is March 15, 2010.
    The deadline for submitting 2009 Health and/or Childcare flex spending claims is April 30, 2010.

  • New IRS Regulations - Health Flex Spending Debit Card
    Effective January 1, 2010, there will be an important change to the Visa debit card in our Health Care Flex Spending plan. According to new IRS regulations, you will be required to settle all outstanding unverified debit card transactions within 90 days of the original purchase dates or risk the possible suspension of your card.

  • Tuition Deadlines
    The deadline to submit a request for tuition assistance each semester is the day before the first day of class at WU.

  • Dependent Child Tuition Documentation Required
    Documentation is required to provide proof of eligibility for dependent child tuition benefits. Visit our HR-Benefits website for details.

  • Definition of an Eligible Dependent for Health Insurance
    • Spouse or Domestic Partner (same or opposite gender) whose principal place of residence is with the faculty or staff member.
    • Natural, adopted,or step-children, or children for whom the faculty or staff member has legal guardianship; who are unmarried; from birth to age 24; who are not regularly employed on a full time basis; who are dependent upon the faculty or staff member for their support; and who resides with the faculty or staff member.
  • New Employee Benefits Eligibililty
    All new benefits eligible faculty and staff have 31 days from their date of hire to enroll in health/dental, flex spending, life and long term care insurance. Attending new hire orientation is the best way to receive the information you need to make informed decisions about which benefits are right for you and your family.

  • Family Status Benefit Changes
    You must submit enrollment/change forms to the Benefits department within 31 days (62 days for the birth or adoption of a child) of the event date in order to change your health benefits coverage and within 31 days to change your flexible spending election. Examples include marriage, divorce, change in employee or spouse's employment and spouse/domestic partner's open enrollment.

  • Retiree Benefits Eligibility
    All full-time and part-time faculty and staff who have achieved the Rule of 65 or more (combination of age and completed years of continuous benefit eligible service) with two minimums (age 55 and 5 years of service) are eligible for retiree benefits.

  • Maximizing Retirement Savings
    To calculate the contribution percentage to reach the 2010 IRS deferral maximum for the retirement savings plan, divide the deferral maximum amount by base annual salary.

  • Group Variable Universal Life (GVUL) premiums change with your October 2009 payroll. Check paycheck advice on Self Service for accuracy.

  • Voluntary Benefits
    In addition to the three anchor benefits (Health Insurance, Retirement Savings, and Tuition Assistance), and our core benefits (flexible spending, life insurance, long term disability, and RMSA), other voluntary plans offered through the benefits package include Long Term Care, MO$T, and Travelers Auto/Home Insurance.

    Just the Facts